Jim Martin

HarperCollins eh. What on earth is going on? Some high-level top-brass internecine warfare by the looks of it.

It's fair to say none of our current crop of hapless journeymen would be fit to lace the man's boots. RIP Billy Bonds #whufc

Controversial I know but the Christmas Tree is already up. Elf already sitting on the shelf.

A Yellow Wagtail that definitely wasn't take in Wales.

Interesting choice of Yellow Wagtail to illustrate this BBC report.

Let's just say it's not a Welsh one. Who fancies IDing to subspecies?

A sudden flurry of excellent book ideas and proposals. The pre-Santa bounce. A reminder of why I enjoy my job.

Oh. My. God.

You would not believe how horrible it is here. 😃

It is just too cold, wet and horrible outside to go watch football. Will sit by the fire and doom-scroll instead.

Rather shamelessly heading on the tube with an award I collected on someone else's behalf at a ceremony earlier. Fun to see people clock the award, then try to figure out if I'm famous. Bad luck, fuckers. 10/10, would recommend.

How can he possibly more unpopular than Truss? I simply don't believe this.

@sophiepavs.bsky.social from this week's Beano.

I know you can do it.

We are watching K-Pop Demon Hunters.

uh?

It is genuinely amazing just how much work I can get done – and how much happier I feel as a result – when I can get on with some actual work and not be in sat in meetings all day.

I will be limping in to work tomorrow. Pulled a muscle in my arse clambering through the softplay. Tough times.

The wretched Kidabulous strikes again.

Forced to go inside the giant soft-play ziggurat. Failed to stretch beforehand. Serious muscle strain the inevitable result.

Nice.

Best series of anything of all time. Amazing. Unparalleled.

Wild that Picador have restoked the Kate Clanchy affair (see @thebookseller.com). Why? This pandemic-era fiasco was basically forgotten.

Waiting for a train at Waterloo means time spent in @foyles picking holes in the output of rival publishers. A rare joy.

Adventures in Fermentation book cover.

I've tried to like this. I really have. The subject is something I'm really interested in. But the author is just too boasty-humble braggy, and I've had to knock it on the head. His editors haven't done him any favours here.

There is. Exactly the point Britain's leading seabird/G Auk expert made when I pleaded my case. Maybe save the ones we've still got before trying to bring back the big one.

Great Auk though?

Alice Vernon launches Ghosted | Events at Waterstones Bookshops | Waterstones Events at Waterstones get you closer to the books and authors you admire most. Find information and tickets about Alice Vernon launches Ghosted today.

This Friday, 7pm Halloween night, Bev the Haunted Doll and I will be at Waterstones Aberystwyth to talk about Ghosted. Will anyone be brave enough to shake her little haunted hand? 👻

Tickets and info: www.waterstones.com/events/alice...

A W E S O M E

Telling scary stories around the campfire to young people:

"...and you had no way of knowing who was calling. You just had to pick it up."

"...co...couldn't you put it on silent?"

"There was no silent. And anyone in the house could answer. Even if the call was for you."

😶

Who knew Wales was so cold? It's wild.

Today I'm trapped in a Welsh airbnb with no heating. The curse of the 'smart' thermostat. Sat in my coat under a duvet. A long and difficult night ahead.